Although the smoke in the air this summer has mostly been from distant fires, residents of southwest Colorado are urged to prepare their properties for wildfires.
Here are a few simple steps that you can take to make your homes more fire-resistant and yourself better prepared.
Register for text alerts by texting your ZIP code to 888-777 or register for email and text alerts at nixle.com.
Mow grasses and weeds around your house. Montezuma County has a weed cost-share program to help you combat noxious weeds.
Stack freshly cut firewood at least 30 feet away from your home or in an enclosed woodshed. Make sure your chimney is clean and has its spark arrester back on.
Start your 3-to-5-foot noncombustible buffer all the way around your home and deck. Southwest Colorado has no shortage of rocks. Focus first on your wood deck.
Thin trees and brush around your home and driveway. FireWise's chipper rental rebate will help with the slash.
Training for new FireWise volunteers will be offered in September. Call 970-564-7860 or email montezumafirewise@gmail.com with questions.
Rebecca Samulski is the Montezuma County coordinator of FireWise of Southwest Colorado.
